Actuating mechanism for fare-registers.



I PATENTED'APR. 21, 1908. J. F. OHMER. l Y

ACTUATING MEGHANISM POR FARB RBGISTBRS.

APP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 13. 1907. 4

l :Iae'rwf/ l Il l* WW uw MM v will MINIMUM No. 885,280. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908. d J. P. UHMBR. l AGTUATING MEGHANISM FOR FARE REGISTERS.

APPLIOATIONTIIBD JUNE 13. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- "Nm 885,280. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

- J. P. OHMER. ACTUATING MEGHANISM FOR FARB REGISTERS.

APPLIGAT-ON FILED JUNE 13,1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

V V @AMM warum@ K K A I 30 fr-plurality of banks of counters, in selecting a JOHN F. OHMER, OF DAYTON,

Panni OFFICE. OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'lOOli'Mllt FAR-l". REGIST-ER COMPANY, OF ROVHICSTER, NEW YORh.

AGTATING MECHANISM FOR FARE-REGISTERS.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. April 21, 1908.

Application filed June 13, 1907. Serial No. 378,734.

` vTo all whom it may] Vconcern Be it known that I, Jol-1N F. Onunn, 'a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, l

in the county` of lllontgonlery and State ol' Ohio, 'have'mvented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Actuatmg Mechanlsm for .Fare-Registers; and I do declare thev following to bega'full, clear, and exact description .of the invention, such las will enable. others Jskilledin the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and. figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful 'improvements' in lactuating mechanism for fare registers.

More particularly, the invention appertains to electrical .means for actuating the counters of'a fare register through which the fare collections are reg1stered.\ The actuator through which a single counter or a luralit'y of counters are'operated, has heretofore been I v manually operated to impart the necessary movementlto a counter where the machine contained a sin le bank of counters, or to the several bankso counters where the machine .contained more than a single bank of counters.v 4In other words, the actuator is shifta'ble when employed in a machine having a predetermined counter for operation, but in a 'fa .car as heretofore.

i actuator is not 'shiftable of a fare on a counter, instead of pulling upon a rope or actuating member onthe interior of The conductor may push a button to electrically connect an electro-magnet or solenoid through which the actuating member of the counters is operated.

Preceding a more detail description of the invention, reference is made -to the accompanyingdrawings, of which-,-

- Figure 1, is an elevation`of the end of a car showing the interior thereof and in which a fare register or` machine with the necessary equipment .is illustrated. Fig. 2, is a cro/ss- 'i sectional view through 'the'machine and the operating mechanism on the line a, a of Figi 4,

invention.

Fig. 3, is a front elevation o f the opi ating mechanism shown in the rear of the machine as depicted in Fig. 4, .and comprising in art an electro-magnet or solenoid through w ich the counters are operated. Fig. 5, is a detail of the electro-magnet or solenoid, the carriage upon which it is supported and thetrack upon which the carriage -travels in the setting operations. Fig. 6, is a dia ram of one form of electric circuit through w ich the magnet or solenoid is energized. Fig. 7, is a detail of a portion of the magnet or solenqkild showing a form of dash pot for cushioning t e .core ormember of the magnet which is actuated by the magnet when the latter is energized, and through which the fare counters are actuared.

In a detail Idescription of the invention, similar reference charac-ters indicate corresponding parts. The machine or register may -be of a single fare capacity or it may have a plurality of banks -of counters for registeringa greater number of fares or different denominations of fares. In either event, my im roved electro-,mechanicalmeans are equal y available, and I do not desire to be limited in its application'.

The machine orregister comprises no part of the present invention but is illustrated in the drawings to enable a more complete description and understanding of the mechanism comprised within the scope of ,the present This being the case', the mechanism of the machine or register proper will be briefly described as it is brieflyfillustrated.

"Within the .machine or register casing 1, there is arranged one or more banks of fare counters 2 with their actuating devices comprising apa-wl 3, a pawl carrier 4,- a ratchet wheel `5 Which-cooperate with each bank of counters. The counters 2` and their co'- operating ratchet wheels and transfer wheels are mounted upon shafts 2a and lb in a suitable number of brackets 20. i

6 indicates the individual actuating member of which there is one associated with each bank of counters and through which the pawl carrier-4 of each bank of counters is actuated in a well-known manner.A

It will be understood that in a machine having asingle bank of counters for registering a single class of fares, but one individual actuating member is used.

Referring now to the mechanism through i setting dial 28 as seenin yFig. 1.

\ ohanisin.

ihm nien mpc lower edges or I. in a manner that permits said car-ii: c t

.f travel to various points thereon to be selected by the' setting' mechanism hereinafter described.Y Supported upon this carriage 21 is a roller 19 which rides in and out ot a series of uniform recesses 20a in the upper edge oi a rigid hori- Zent-al bar 20 attached to or an integral part ot` the guide or plate 1S. This roller 19 serves to arrest the movements of the carriage 21 and to maintain the carriage temporarily at any of its set positions7 while at the same` time permitting said carriage to be moved to other points on the guide or plate 18. Owing to the functions of this roller 19, it must have a yielding support such. as a slide 19a which is adapted to move vertically in side guides 19b fixed to one side of the carriage 21 the slide '19 is normally under spring tension to maintain the roller 19 in contact with the recesses-in track 20a before referred to. This spring tensionisprovided by extending a pin 22 .downwardly from the slide 19a and through a guide lug 23 on the carriage 21. The said pin has a iixed collar 24 on its end and' inclosed between the guide lug 23 and saidcollarJ there isla normally open coil spring 25. Attached to opposite sides of the carriage 21 is an actuating chain or. flexible connection 26 through which the carriage is set to selected positions depending upon the specific counter to be operated to record the rares as collected. This chain 26 asses around a pulley 27 at one end of the irame or casing 1a and thence around a sprocket chain (not shown) in the rear of the The sprocket Wheel referred to has a iixed con-A nection with a setting rod 29 extending on the interior of the car and also .iixed to said setting rod 29 .in the t'ront of the dial 28 is a pointer 30 which is moved concurrently with the s rocket wheel to the desired positions as in `cated on the dial 28. This operation of setting the carriage to the desired position :fis Well understood as it is a feature of many of my former patents which need not here be specifically mentioned.

l: Coming now to the electro-mechanical devices embraced within the present invention, 11 designates the Winding of an electro-magnet or solenoid, the metallic shell ot which is ccnstructedof brass and is rigidly supported eeegrase n on the carriage 21 as shown in Fig. 1. T iis magnet or solenoid if energized trom any source of electrical supply, such as a storage battery .Ei a generator B, or it may lie supplied with electrical energy Ytrom the source which supplies the lamps on the interior ot the car. The 't'ecd wires 14';- forming the electrical circuit in which the magnet or solenoid is placed. are ot sniiicient lei 'th to permit the magnet or solenoid being moved with selecting a counter to be operated. The core .9 or that mendier which is attracted by the magnet, in the present adaptation, terminates in an lip-turned arm 9 on the eX-' teriorof the magnet or solenoid; this p0rtion 9av performs the functions of an actuator for the individual actuating members 6 bf the vtare counters. The upper end ot the core or member 9 is provided with lateral extensions 8 which incluse the lug 7 projecting from the rear side ol each ol the individual actuating members 6.` whenever the lcarriage 21 moves the Asolenoid to a position previously determined, as for example, when a deiinitc'c'ounter is to be operated. Extending vcrticallyfrom the inclosed end of the core 9, is a stem 12 which projects through an opening' in a guide or bracket 13 secured to the top of the 'magnetor solenoid; this'ste'm 12 is surrounded by a coil spring l-l inclosed between the bracket 13 and the core 9, the function of said spring being that ol n cushion to normally .maintain the core 9 in the lower position as shown in 4; ln the top of the' casing 1a there is a series ot openings which permit the stem 12 to .project therethrough whenever the core ot' the magnet or solenoid is elevated which takes place whenever the current is sent therethrough.

ln Fig. 7, l have shown a form ol substitute for the spring 14 constituting an air cushion or dash pot 32, in the axis olA the magnet or solenoid. On the interior olE said dash pot there is a ilap valve 33 hinged at one side; this valve has a needle valve seat 34 to receive 4the needle point of a valve 35; thc latter valve screws through a cap 36 in the. end of the dash pot. The ca'p 3 has a suflicient number of air ports 37 communicating with the dash pot to admit air to and discharge from the dash pot, When thc magnet core moves downward, the tlap valve 33 is drawn down by suction approximately to the position'shown in dotted lines and is limited to such movement by a stop 38. lllhen thus moved down, air is drawn in through the several ports 37-34, and when the magnet core is again moved up by the magnet becoming energized, this air serves as a cushion gradually escaping throughsaid ports. I do not desire to limit myself to any 'particular means for cushioning theI core as this result may be obtained in a variety of ways. The circuit wires 15 are properly insulated and extend on the interior of thecar as shown in lfig.- 1, and at suitable points along said'wires there are arranged proper push buttons or circuit closcrs 31. Along the carriage-su])porting plate 18 thei'e are arranged a series of wants 1T; the spaces between each two c1' these vanes are in alineiiient with tlie'several banks oi counters and'tlieir individual actuating members 6 so that thez extension El of the solenoid core when in an operative position stands in the front of said spaces. The. vanes 17 act as stops to prevent the solenoid core from being elevated when not in a proper position` the rear side of said core having a lug 16 which lies below the vanes 17 when the core is in its normal or lower posiion Vhen the carriage moves the, solenoid to each position to actuate the counters; the lug 16 moves within the space between the vanes. It will be understood that the electro-magnet or solenoid is stationary when the register or machine contains but a single bank of counters, for example, in a machine having a single tare capacity. In such event `the carriage 21 is not employed.

The operation-of my improved actuating mechanism is briefly described asl follows: In Fig. 1, it will be noted that the pointer 30 indicates a .10c..fare on the setting indicator 28, tlievsetting rod 29 having been rotated to bring the pointer to sucliposition. The same operation of .the setting rod moves the carriage 21 to the individual actuating member 6 of that particular bank of counters, and the core extension oractuator 9 is moved to an operative relation with the lug 7 of said individual actuating member; one of the circuit closers .or buttons 31 is then pressed by the finger to energize the solciioid and thereby elevate the magnet core and the actuator. 9, the latter at the same time elevating the individual actuating members 6 to operate the counters. llNhen the pressure is relieved from tliebutton, the circuit is opened, the solenoid is demagnetized and the-core 9 is returned toits normal. position under the action of the spring 14.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 6, the soleny oid may be placed in circuit with either the storage battery A or tlic generator B through means of a switch C, two'of the terminals ot y which Aare connected with the feed wires 15 and the other two terminals of which may be connected with either the battery wires oi" the generator wires; as now shown the` switch terminals are connected 'with the battery wires.

As liereinbefore stated, when the. register i employs but a singley bank of counters; thev i solenoid is moved to a position to eti'ect an engagement between its core extension and` "the individual actuating member of the electro-magnet is Vnot movable to. various points as it is when several banks ot counters 'are employed; this also dispenses with the employment of the setting mechanism which is shown in Fig. 1 and elsewhere.

see Fig. 4.

Iclaim:

1. In an actuating mechanism for tai-e registers,- a series of banks of counters, an actuating member for each bank oil counters, a movable solenoid including a core having an extension adapted' to be brought into Operative relation with each of said individual actuating members, and means for energizing said solenoid to actuate the core and the core extension therewith to move the individual actuating member.

2. In an actuating mechanism for t'arc registers, a series ol banks of counters, an actuating member i'or each bank ot' counters, a solenoid including a core having an extension adapted to engage eac-h oi' saidactuating members to operate the same, means lor moving the solenoid to a position to eil'cet an engagement between the core extension and a predetermined counter-actuating member, and means for energizing the solenoid to actuate the core/and its extension.

3. In an actuating mechanisnrtor l'aic registers, a series 'of banks of counters, an actuating member for each bank, a solenoid including a movable core having an 'extension adapted to engage any predetermined actuating member of the counters, a rai'riage supporting the solenoid, means for :moving said carriage to set the solenoid in an operative position with the actuating member ol' the counter to vbe operated, an electric ciicuitin which the solenoid` is placed, and a circuit closer controlling the current and the closing of which energizes the magnet and actuates the Acore and the extension thereof, substantially. as specified.

4. Iii an actuating mechanism for tare registers, a series of banks of counters, an actuating member for eachbank of counters, a movable solenoid including acore with an extension adapted to be brought into operative relation with cach of said individual actuating members, means for energizing the solenoid to actuatc thc core and its extension to move the individual actuating member, and means for returning the core and its extension to normal position.

5. In an actuating mechanism for laie' selected counter.

6. In an actuating mechanism for lare extension adaj ai to be brought o :i posi- :3 tion-to engage am: one oi' the actua ting memio diente upon said indicatordu laroo 1he bank hers' ol' said counters, an anxiliaiff i which the rares arc indicate at are :'ahlc upon the several bank i coun- ,sei ing mechanism to simultaneouslv inoi'. counters seccted l'or operation andI to move the solenoid to a position to cliect an engagement between its core extension and thc actuatingmemberol' t he selected counter, and means for energizing the solenoid 'to ndicator i actnate the core and extcnison and therei actuating member lor each bank ot counters,

with said counter-actuating member.

T. ln an actuating mechanism l'or lare registers, a series ol banks ol counters, an actuating member l'or each bank oi counters, 'a movable solenoid including' a core and cote extension, thc latter lying parallel with the solenoid and exterior thereto, said core extension being adapted to engage any one o the -individual counter-actuating members, a carriage sulfporting said solenoid, setting mechanism connected with said carriagc and through which thc solenoid is moved intoy`operative relation with the p redetermined bank of counters, an electric circuit having its terminals connected with the opposite poles olE the solenoid, a 1d aseries of circuit closers arranged and operating, substantialhv as specified.

8. ln an actuating mechanism for fare registers, a series of banks of counters, anA

actuating member for each bank of counters, a solenold including a core with an extenslon adapted to engage an)v one of said actuating 4o members, a carriage supporting said solenoid in the rear of said actuating members, an auxiliarymdleator, setting devices connected -with said auxillary mdlcator and the carriage vand whereby the fare to be registreed is indicated and the counter of such fare 1s si tension is actuated to operate the actuating member of the' selected counter.

. E). In an actuating mechanism for registers, a bank of counters, an actuating member to operate said counters, an electromagnet to move the actuating membzp, and

i electro-magnet is piaceihand a series ol' eir- ,uit closers controlling said circuit,

mechanism lor tare nks of counters, an

it. ln an actuatin registers, a :series ol la movable electro-magnet adapted to be moved into operative relation with cach ol` said individual actuating members, said electro-magnet having an extended core adapted to engage and lift the actuating' members ol'V the counters, means .for encrgizingthe electro-magia? to actuate the actuating member to move a specific bank ol counters.

l2. In an actuating mechanism for fare registers, a series ol banks oi' counters, an actuating member l'or each bank of counters, a movable solenoid adapted to be brought into operative relation with a selected actuating'member, said solenoid including au extended core adapted to engage the actuating member of a selected counter, and means for energizing the electro-magnet to actuate the actuating' member so selected.

13.111 an actuating mechanism for fare registers, the combination with a series'of banks -otl counters, an individual indicator' to engage said actuating member, an electric 1 circuit including said magnet, 'and a series of circuit closers controlling saidcircuit.

In 'testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

C. M. TuEoBALn, R. J. MCCARTY. 

